Zelensky offers exchange of North Korean soldiers

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he is willing to repatriate two captured North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia. Zelenskyy mentioned on social platform X that for those soldiers who do not wish to return to North Korea, "there may be other options." He added that those who wish to "promote peace by spreading the truth about this war in North Korea" would be given such an opportunity.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) stated that one of the soldiers told officials he thought he was going to Russia for "training," not to fight. He was found to be in possession of a Russian military ID card issued in another person's name. The other soldier had no identification documents. The SBU said that the two soldiers were captured on January 9th and are currently receiving treatment in Kyiv. They only speak Korean and are being interrogated with the assistance of the South Korean National Intelligence Service.

Russia has not denied using North Korean troops in its war against Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in October that whether to deploy such troops is a "sovereign decision" of his country. Zelenskyy released photos of the two captured soldiers on Saturday, one with bandages around his head and chin, and the other with both hands wrapped. Zelenskyy also shared a photo of a red Russian military ID card showing the place of birth as Turan in the Republic of Tuva, Russia, which borders Mongolia. The SBU stated that the soldier holding the ID card told interrogators that he obtained it in Russia in the fall of 2024. According to the SBU, he also said that some North Korean combat units received one week of training at that time.

The SBU statement said, "It is worth noting that this prisoner...emphasized that he was allegedly going for training, not to fight in the war against Ukraine." Zelenskyy's office stated in a statement on Saturday that the Russians "tried to cover up the fact that they were North Korean soldiers by giving them documents claiming they were from Tuva or other Moscow-controlled regions." Intelligence reports said that the soldier carrying the ID card said he was born in 2005 and had been a rifleman in North Korea since 2021. According to the SBU, the second captive allegedly answered some questions in writing due to a jaw injury. The SBU believes he was born in 1999 and has been a reconnaissance sniper in North Korea since 2016.

The Geneva Conventions stipulate that interrogations of prisoners should be conducted in a language they understand, and prisoners must be protected from public curiosity. BBC News and other international media have not yet verified Ukraine's claims about the prisoners and their capture. Ukraine and South Korea reported late last year that North Korea had sent at least 10,000 soldiers to Russia. The South Korean National Intelligence Service said on Monday that more than 300 North Korean soldiers have died while fighting for Russia, and at least 2,700 have been injured. In December last year, South Korean intelligence agencies reported that a North Korean soldier, believed to be the first captured in support of Russia's war against Ukraine, died after being captured alive by Ukrainian forces. Zelenskyy said on Sunday, "There is no doubt that the Russian army relies on military assistance from North Korea."